Post #576771 by bigbrotiki on Sat, Feb 19, 2011 3:32 AM

Nice find! This is indeed one of the best examples of the "Shield sign" concept found in other places like the Leilani Wisconsin and Kon Tiki Tuscon, a subject which was discussed here by Sabu. It is also clearly a Tiki-period design, while the "Tradewinds" moniker, as I mentioned here...
http://www.tikicentral.com/viewtopic.php?topic=38951&forum=2

...is clearly a Pre-Tiki concept. Looking at some of the Tradewinds motels posted here on TC, it is interesting that there were a couple of non-affiliated Tradewinds Motels who seem to have emulated the impressive Tulsa Tradewinds sign:

...which was also a Pre-Tiki design. Here are the Nebraska and Lake Tahoe ones:

(This one was has both, palm and Tiki)

Not quite as impressive, but they did better than this late, un-themed, POST-Tiki sign :) :

This makes Tradewinds signage another nice example of the transition form Polynesian pop to Tiki style.